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Costa Rica cuts ties with Cuba, closes embassy in Havana
Costa Rica on Wednesday cut diplomatic ties with Cuba and President Rodrigo Chaves declared that the "hemisphere must be cleansed of communists."
Costa Rica closes Havana embassy, tells Cuba to withdraw diplomats
Costa Rica on Wednesday closed its embassy in Havana and told Cuba's communist authorities to pull their diplomats from Costa Rica.
First international aid convoy arrives in crisis-hit Cuba
The first shipment of international aid for crisis-hit Cuba has arrived in the country in the shape of five tons of medical supplies, official sources said Wednesday.
Oscar-winner Sean Penn meets troops in frontline Ukraine
US actor Sean Penn met frontline troops in Ukraine, pictures showed Wednesday, the latest appearance in a surprise tour of the war-torn country after skipping the Oscar awards ceremony on Sunday.
Thousands rally in Istanbul to mark year since mayor's arrest
Thousands of people gathered outside Istanbul City Hall Wednesday to mark one year since the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu in a graft probe widely seen as a politically motivated act against the key opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
From Faraja to Sepah: Iran's multiple security forces
Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has taken steps to ensure it is not reliant on a single security force but rather multiple structures to defend the Islamic republic against external and internal threats.
Iran condemned as UN maritime body holds emergency talks on Mideast shipping
Gulf states and Western nations strongly criticised Iran at an emergency meeting Wednesday of the UN's maritime body, convened amid growing fears for thousands of stranded ships and seafarers.
Iraqi Kurdish shepherds stoic in face of yet another war
Through one conflict after another, herders in Iraqi Kurdistan have grazed their animals under the endless blue skies of the Zagros Mountains -- a lifestyle they are stoically trying to maintain as yet another war engulfs the region.
'Free France': Macron reveals name of Europe's largest warship
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that France's next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will be called "France Libre" (Free France), as the country looks to reinforce its status as a major maritime power.
Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment, US intelligence finds
US intelligence concluded Wednesday that Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment capacities destroyed last year by the United States and Israel, contradicting a key justification by President Donald Trump for his ongoing war.
Trump administration takes steps to curb energy cost hikes
US President Donald Trump's administration scrambled Wednesday to rein in surging energy costs from war in the Middle East, temporarily waiving a century-old shipping law and easing Venezuela sanctions.
Pakistan announces Eid 'pause' in conflict with Afghanistan
Pakistan announced on Wednesday a "temporary pause" in hostilities with Afghanistan to mark the end of Ramadan, after Kabul promised to avenge the deaths of hundreds killed in a strike on a Kabul drug treatment centre.
Maiduguri bombings follow surge of jihadist violence in Nigeria
Nigeria's defence chiefs visited Maiduguri Wednesday after one of the deadliest attacks in the Borno state capital in years, in a show of defiance.
Stocks fall, oil surges as US inflation jumps and Israel strikes gas facilities
Stocks markets fell and oil prices surged Wednesday after a closely watched US inflation gauge came in hotter than expected and Iran said that Israel struck one of its gas facilities.
South Lebanon residents flee death and destruction
The line of cars stretched as far as the eye could see along the coast of southern Lebanon, as residents of areas bombarded in the Israel-Hezbollah war poured into the ancient city of Sidon in search of safety.
Under Hezbollah fire, people in north Israel hope for better days
Israeli dairy and fruit farmer Tommy Kurlender refused to abandon his herd during the last war with Hezbollah, and vowed he would again stay put this time around.
Iran women's football team cross Turkish border to head home: AFP
The Iranian women's national football team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday, among them several players who withdrew an asylum bid in Australia.
Fear in central Beirut as Israel strikes, with and without warning
Sara Saleh and her family fled wearing their pyjamas on Wednesday when Israel's military said it would strike a central Beirut building near the school-turned-shelter where they had been staying.
'France is wild': Macron to unveil name of Europe's largest warship
President Emmanuel Macron was set to unveil on Wednesday the name of France's next aircraft carrier, as the country looks to reinforce its status as a major maritime power.
Israel conducts wave of strikes on Beirut
Israel repeatedly struck central Beirut on Wednesday, with Lebanese authorities reporting a death toll of at least 12 including a director for Hezbollah's Al Manar TV channel, and said it would strike river crossings in south Lebanon.
US govt says Anthropic AI an 'unacceptable risk' to military
Artificial intelligence company Anthropic posed an "unacceptable risk" to military supply chains, the US government insisted Tuesday, as it defends against the tech firm's challenge to a designation as dangerous.
Head of victorious Nepal party hails 'win for the country'
The head of the victorious party in Nepal's election hailed its landslide triumph as a "win for the country" on Wednesday, urging new lawmakers to deliver for people who "sacrificed their blood" in last year's protests.
UN maritime body kicks off emergency talks on Mideast shipping
The head of the UN's maritime body Wednesday urged "practical measures" to protect trade ships threatened by the Middle East war, as he opened an emergency meeting amid fears for thousands of stranded ships and seafarers.
Israel says killed Iran intel chief, tells military to hunt down officials
Israel said Wednesday its forces had killed another top Iranian official, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, and said its military was authorised to kill any senior figure of the Islamic republic in its sights.
Japan, S. Korea petrochemical industry slows output on Iran war
The Middle East war is forcing petrochemical giants in two key Asian economies to cut production as the conflict rattles supplies of a crucial oil-derived component used to make a range of plastic goods.
Stocks extend gains, oil sinks as US, Israel, Iran press on strikes
Oil prices sank Wednesday after Iraq said it had resumed exports through Turkey, avoiding the effectively closed Strait of Hormuz, while equities rose following another tech-led advance on Wall Street.
Iran to hold funeral for slain security chief as it vows vengeance
Iran will hold a funeral Wednesday for its security chief Ali Larijani as it vowed revenge, firing off a wave of missiles at Israel after it killed the powerful figure in an air strike.
Iran vows revenge for security chief Larijani's killing
Iran vowed on Wednesday a "decisive" retaliation for the death of its security chief Ali Larijani, firing off a wave of missiles at Israel which said it killed him in an air strike.
Stocks extend gains and oil dips as US, Israel, Iran continue strikes
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday and oil prices dipped following another tech-led advance on Wall Street, as the United States hit Iranian missile sites near the key Strait of Hormuz and Tehran struck crude-producing Gulf neighbours.
Iran missile fire kills two in central Israel: medics
An Iranian missile barrage killed two people near Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, medics said Wednesday, as the national railway company suspended operations due to shrapnel impact at a station in the city.
Britain, Rwanda in £100m court clash over migrant deal
Britain and Rwanda cross swords at an international court from Wednesday, with Kigali seeking more than £100 million it says London still owes from a scrapped deal to deport migrants.
'We will wait for each one': Ukrainians greet POWs with tears and cheers
Larysa Gladka was among hundreds of Ukrainians lining the road stretching towards the northern border, holding flags as they anxiously fixed their gaze at the horizon.